Portable motorized yarn dispenser

ABSTRACT

A dispenser is provided for feeding a required amount of yarn during conventional knitting procedures such as usually takes place in the home. The dispenser includes power driven feed rolls through which the yarn is passed and a foot pedal for controlling the operation of the feed rolls. The yarn is fed from a conventional hank, ball or other usual supply by the feed rolls as needed.

United States Patent Zatopek et al.

[451 Aug. 26, 1975 PORTABLE MOTORIZED YARN DISPENSER Inventors: Edward J. Zatopek; Shirley A.

Zatopek, both of 7143 Chandler Dr., Box 14683, Baton Rouge, La. 70808 Filed: June 14, 1974 Appl. No.: 479,447

US. Cl. 226/134 Int. Cl. B65H 17/26 Field of Search 221/258; 226/123, 152,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Carter et a1 1. 226/134 X Kilham 226/134 X Rooklyn 226/134 Primary Examiner stanley H. Tollberg Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Wm. .l. Stephenson 5 7 ABSTRACT A dispenser is provided for feeding a required amount of yarn during conventional knitting procedures such as usually takes place in the home. The dispenser includes power driven feed rolls through which the yarn is passed and a foot pedal for controlling the operation of the feed rolls. The yarn is fed from a conventional hank, ball or other usual supply by the feed rolls as needed.

6 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PAIamEnwcz iYs Y 3,901,426

sum 2 OF 2 lulllw" PORTABLE MOTORIZED YARN DISPENSER BRIEF DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION My invention consists primarily of a set of power driven feed rolls driven by any small electric motor using either batteries or house current. The feed rolls ag controlled preferably by a foot pedal so that the operator merely has to press the pedal with her toe in order to produce a feeding action. The yarn supply is any conventional source such as a hank, ball or skein, such as are usually used by people who perform knitting for relaxation or a hobby or even as a source of supplemental income. The invention is susceptible to a great variation in design. Basically, it should be easily portable so that it can be carried with the same ease that one now carries their knitting paraphernalia. In addition to the feed rolls, some suitable guide to feed the yarn to the feed rolls should be provided and it is also desirable to equip the apparatus with some handle or other means for easily transporting and protecting the same. A compact embodiment includes a small container with a compartment for the motor and one for storing the power cord and foot pedal. The yarn may be itself fed directly from the presently used knitting bags, a tray or a suitable support for the yarn may also be provided as desired.

Knitting and crochetting has over the years always been one of the most useful and popular recreations or hobbies. One main problem has always existed and that was the supplying of yarn to the actual knitting or corchetting needles especially without causing variation in tension or feeding. For good even knitting or crochetting, it is essential that the tension of the yarn as fed to the needles be as near nonexistent as possible. Accordingly, the knitter or crocheter would often pull a slight excess of yarn from the supply so that at no time will the yarn exert a positive tension on the needles due to the fact that it is not fed freely from the supply source. It is the main objective of my invention to overcome this previous difficulty and to provide a practical means whereby the knitter or crocheter can provide the desired slight excess of yarn to the knitting or crochetting needles without any danger of inducing tensions due to pulling the yarn directly from the source of supply or causing tangles in the yarn due to an excessive amount of slack. To this end, a small compact feeding device is provided positioned between the source of yarn and the point where the knitting or crochetting occurs which will instantaneously feed a small amount of yarn as desired to thus avoid any tensions which might result from pulling the yarn directly from the source of supply and to still keep the amount of slack at a minimum.

IN THE DRAWINGS:

My invention may best be understood by reference to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 represents a top plan view of one embodiment of my invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. 1 with a portion cut away.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the same invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 through 3 in actual operation showing the feeding of the yarn.

FIG. 5 is a top view of a second embodiment of my invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view of the same.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrating the feeding of the yarn through the apparatus.

A preferred embodiment of my invention may be no larger than a 4 X 6 inches conventional card file box. A container of this size is shown generally in FIGS. 1 through 4 as indicated by the reference numeral 1. This container is provided with a lid 2 which lid is balanced so as to remain open during use and is closed to protect the said apparatus when not in use. The main body of the container is provided with two compartments 3 and 4. Compartment 3 holds the actual feeding mechanism which consists of a pair of rolls 5 and a small guide 6 to feed yarn directly to the bite of the rolls. One of the rolls 5a is covered with a soft material such as sponge rubber and may be connected directly to the shaft of motor 7. The other roll 5b may have a conventional hard surface. Yarn is fed through the guide 6 and placed over the bite of the rolls 5 and when the rolls are in motion the yarn will be pulled into the bite of said rollers and accordingly fed as the rolls turn. The motor may be any small conventional electric motor which may be supplied with suitable gearing to operate the rolls instead of having one roll connected to its shaft. The motor is placed in compartment 3. A cover 8 may be provided over compartment 3 and separates the exposed rollers from the underlying motor. The lid is mounted so as to be retained in an open position. A conventional cord 9 is provided to bring electric power to the motor and a foot pedal 10 is provided in the cord to turn the current on and off as desired. This pedal in practice is placed directly under the chair of the operator and accordingly when yarn is desired, a mere touch of the foot will actuate the rolls to feed the desired amount of yarn. This small compact unit may be placed on a table, the arm of a chair or in the lap of the operator. Where the operator is using a conventional knitting bag for carrying the yarn, the feeding or dispensing unit may be placed at the mouth of the bag. The electric cord 9 with the foot pedal 10 obviously may be detachable if desired. In any event, the pedal and electric cord may be stored in compartment 4 when the unit is not in use. An additional guide for the yarn is provided as shown by guide 11 which will aid in better feeding of the yarn to the roller guide 6. The function of this guide 11 is clearly illustrated in FIG. 4. As is conventional with portable, electrical apparatus such as radios and tape recorders, a substitute source of electrical current such as conventional batteries may be provided as shown in 12, thus allowing the operator to use either conventional house current or batteries as desired. A latch 14 may be provided between the cover and the container and a carrying handle 15 may be attached to said cover. The yarn may be pulled directly from a conventional knitting bag when the yarn is so carried or may be placed on some other support such as a table or the floor as desired, regardless of whether the yarn supply be in the form of a hank, skein or ball, etc.

The complete apparatus is sufficiently compact and small to be carried in conventional knitting bags along with the knitting paraphernalia. While the embodiment of FIG. 1 has been described as being of approximately the size of a 4 X 6 guide card box; the present state of electronic minimization makes it possible to produce a feed dispensing unit of much smaller size if so desired. Also, it is obvious that the storage compartment for the power cord and foot pedal could be made of greater size so as to accommodate a supply of yarn for the article undergoing the process of knitting or crochetting. In this instance, a feed and dispensing device rather than looking like a conventional file card case would take on the appearance of a small suitcase or satchel. The actual feeding or dispensing device occupying one corner thereof.

An optional form of my invention is illustrated in FIGS. 5 thru 7 of the drawings. In this embodiment a platform is provided upon one corner of which is mounted the actual feed unit 21. This feed unit consists of a small casing which houses the motor driving the feed rolls and to which is attached the power cord and foot pedal. A handle 22 is provided so that the unit may be readily moved from place to place as desired, even though this unit is not intended to be a portable unit capable of being carried around as in a knitting bag. The platform 20 is provided with side members 23 and a supply of yarn can be placed on the platform and confined between the two side members. A guide 24 in the form of a loop whose ends are inserted in holes 25 in the platform is provided to guide the yarn from the yarn supply to the dispensing unit. A suitable final guide member 26 is provided immediately in advance of the nip of the dispensing rolls. The yarn dispensing apparatus of this embodiment is designed primarily for use in the home particularly where there is a sewing room or other area for knitting or similar activities are to take place. This dispensing unit therefore not only serves as a dispensing unit but provides for a supply of material which is instantly available as soon as a knitting or crochetting operation is desired to be commenced.

I claim:

1. In a yarn feeding and dispensing device, a container, a partition in said container dividing the same into two compartments, a cover over the face of one of the compartments, a pair of rolls mounted on the top of said cover, an electric motor on the underside of said cover and operatively connected to said rolls, a power cord connected to said motor, a foot operated switch member connected to said power cord, a guide member on said cover placed immediately in advance of the nip of the feed rolls and an additional guide member attached to the end wall of the other compartment of said container and protruding therefrom, a lid for the container hinged thereto in such a manner as to be retainable in either the open or closed position.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein one of said rolls is provided with a hard surface and the other roll is provided with a rubber surface and attached directly to said motor means.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein batteries are provided in the compartment housing the motor and conventional switch means are provided for substituting the power of said batteries for the source of power supplied by the power cord.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein a latch means is provided to retain the cover in closed position and a carrying handle provided on said cover.

5. A portable yarn dispensing and feed unit, an enclosed motor unit, a pair of feed rolls projecting from one face of the enclosure for said motor unit one of said rolls being provided with a hard surface and the other roll provided with a rubbery surface, the shaft of one of feed rolls extending through said enclosure and attached to said motor, a guide means on said enclosure and placed immediately in advance of the nip of said rollers, a guide element for feeding yarn to said guide means and a source of power connected to said motor unit extending through a wall of said enclosure a foot pedal switch attached to said source of power, and a carrying handle attached to said unit.

6. The invention of claim 5 wherein the enclosed motor unit is mounted on a platform element, said handle unit attached to said motor enclosure and side wall elements attached to said platform element in advance of enclosed motor unit to form a compartment on said base to form an enclosure to receive a supply of yarn, an additional yarn guide consisting of a loop extending over the enclosure for said yarn supply, said guide comprising a loop member having a pair of legs removably attached to the end of said platform element. 

1. In a yarn feeding and dispensing device, a container, a partition in said container dividing the same into two compartments, a cover over the face of one of the compartments, a pair of rolls mounted on the top of said cover, an electric motor on the underside of said cover and operatively connected to said rolls, a power cord connected to said motor, a foot operated switch member connected to said power cord, a guide member on said cover placed immediately in advance of the nip of the feed rolls and an additional guide member attached to the end wall of the other compartment of said container and protruding therefrom, a lid for the container hinged thereto in such a manner as to be retainable in either the open or closed position.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein one of said rolls is provided with a hard surface and the other roll is provided with a rubber surface and attached directly to said motor means.
 3. The invention of claim 2 wherein batteries are provided in the compartment housing the motor and conventional switch means are provided for substituting the power of said batteries for the source of power supplied by the power cord.
 4. The invention of claim 3 wherein a latch means is provided to retain the cover in closed position and a carrying handle provided on said cover.
 5. A portable yarn dispensing and feed unit, an enclosed motor unit, a pair of feed rolls projecting from one face of the enclosure for said motor unit one of said rolls being provided with a hard surface and the other roll provided with a rubbery surface, the shaft of one of feed rolls extending through said enclosure and attached to said motor, a guide means on said enclosure and placed immediately in advance of the nip of said rollers, a guide element for feeding yarn to said guide means and a source of power connected to said motor unit extending through a wall of said enclosure a foot pedal switch attached to said source of power, and a carrying handle attached to said unit.
 6. The invention of claim 5 wherein the enclosed motor unit is mounted on a platform element, said handle unit attached to said motor enclosure and side wall elements attached to said platform element in advance of enclosed motor unit to form a compartment on said base to form an enclosure to receive a supply of yarn, an additional yarn guide consisting of a loop extending over the enclosure for said yarn supply, said guide comprising a loop mEmber having a pair of legs removably attached to the end of said platform element. 